FROM   THE   LIBRARY  OF 
REV.    LOUIS    FITZGERALD    BENSON,   D.  D 

BEQUEATHED    BY   HIM   TO 
THE   LIBRARY  OF 


PRINCETON  THEOLOGICAL   SEMINARY 


3C<C 


~fttflHU 


cc/t^  wejav&to^ 


Regular    and  Jkilful   Mufic   in    the 
Worfitp  of  GOD,1 

Founded  in  the  Law  of  Nature,  and  intro- 
duced into  his  Worfhip,  by  his  own  infti- 
tution,  under  both  the  Jewifh  and  Chriftian 
Difpenfations  $  s 

Shewn    in    a 

S    E    R    M    O    N, 

Preached    at    the 

Nor th   Meeting>-Houfe,    N  a vr  n  v  K  y  -P  o  k  r , 

At   t  k  ff 

Deflre.  o£   the     Church    and    Congregation, 

Fbbruar?  ^8th,    1774. 

By  OLIVER  NOBLE,  A,  M. 

Paftor  of  a  Church  in  Newbury. 

Printed  at  the  Deflre  of  the  Mufical  Society  > 

In  Newbury-Port. 

And    of    a    Number    or 
Gentlemen   and    Ladies    who   heard    it. 


Yhen  fang  Motes  and  the  Children  of  IYrael  this  Song.  MOSES; 

Come  before  his  Prefence  with  Singing.  King  DAVID. 

t  will  fing  with  the  Spirit,  and  with,  the  Undemanding.  PAUL 

BOSTON: 

Printed  by    Mills  and 'Hicks,  for  Daniel   Baylsy,  ia 

Newbury-Pcrt,  1774, 


DEDICATION, 

TO  the  Church  and  Con- 
gregation that  ufiially 
worfhip  in  the  North 
Meeting-Houfe,  Newbury- 
Port  y  and  to  the  Mufical 
Society  in  faid  Town  ;  and 
to  the  Singing  Men  and  Sing- 
ing Women,  wherever  this 
lhall  come;— This  Sermon 
is  humbly  dedicated,  by± 
their  moft  L 

Obedient  and 

humble 

Servant, 

for  Jefus's 

Sake, 

The  Author. 


A 

DISCOURE  on  MUSIC,   &c 


I.     C   H  II   O  N.     xv.     22. 

u4nd  Chenaniah,  Chief  of  the  Levites,  was 
for  Songs;  he  inftrutted  about  the  Song , 
becanfe  he  was  fkilful. 

THAT  the  blefled  God,  the  author 
of  nature,  the  God  of  providence 
and  grace,  the  Lord  of  angels 
and  men,  fhould  be  worlhipped 
with  praife  and  thankfgiving  by  all  intelli- 
gencies,  is  founded  in  the  moral  and  un- 
changeable fitnefs  of  things,  and  belongs 
to  the  religion  or  law  of  nature  ;  and  will  re~ 
main  binding  upon  all  moral  beings,  as  long 
as  the  relation  of  Creator  and  creature  fub- 
fifts. 

Our  account  of  the  duty  of  praifing  God 
with  the  voice  of  melody,  or  finging  forth 
the  praifes  of  the  Almighty,  is  coeval  with 
creation  itfelf .  For  when  God  had  finifhed 
the  flupendious  work  of  creation,  and  had  ta- 
ken, as  it  were,  a  retrofpeft  of  the  grand 
machine,  and  faw  that  all  was  very  good, 
all  fuited  to  his  divine  and  infinite  plan,  and 
had  pronounced  it  fo  in  the  prefence  of   the 

heavenly 


L     4     j 

heavenly  hoft  ;  the  heavenly  Choir  celebrat- 
ed the  workmanfhip,  and  worfhipped  and 
glorified  the  infinite  Workman,  in  a  Jong  of 
praife,  as  the  moft  proper  and  fublime  way 
of  praifing,  and  worshipping  God, 

For,  and  on  that  great  occafion,  the  an*- 
gels  (who  are  called  morning  ftars,  and  fons 
of  God)  fang  together  and  jbouted  for  joy. 
That  is,  they  expreffed  their  praife  in  a  vocal 
anthem. — And  indeed,  it  feems  to  be  a  kind 
of  natural  worfhip,  that  forces  itfelf  upon  the 
intelligent  mind  :  The  obligation  to  which, 
feems  to  be  written  on  the  heart  ;  that  has 
always  excited  all  moral  beings,  that  have 
had  any  true  fenfe  of  God  upon  their  minds, 
to  exprefs  their  homage  to  him  with  their 
voice  in  fongs  of  praife.  For  we  find  the 
people  of  God  in  the  early  ages  of  the  wc-ritr^ 
exprefling  their  homage  to  God  this  way  ;  and 
that  before  there  were  any  pofitive  inftitu- 
tions  of  God  about  this  part  of  worfhip .  This 
is  evident,  not  only  from  the  account  we  have 
of  that  memorable  tranfaction  at  the  Red  Sea  ; 
but  at  other  times,  and  on  other  occafions. 
Vocal  Mufic  is,  in  itfelf  a  noble  and  fublime 
art,  and  an fwers  fublime purpofes  ;  efpecially 
when  it  takes  a  ferious  and  facred  turn,  and 
is  employed  in  the  worfhip  and  praife  of  God. 
It  has  not  only  been  revered,  honored,  learned, 
and  praftifed,  by  the  greateft,  wifeft,  and  beft 
of  men  in  all  ages,  as  that  which  ennobles  the 

foul 


C    s   1 

foul  of  man,  raifes  its  ideas,  and  fweetly  calms 
the  rougher  pafMons,  and  furprifingly  pre- 
pares the  mind  for  the  fublimeft,  and  moll 
vigorous  exertions  and  meditations  ;  but  thi$ 
excellent  art,  has  been  introduced  into  the 
worfhip  of  God  by  his  oivn  fpecial  inftitution, 
under  hoth  difpenfations  :  Which  adds  dig- 
nity to  it,  and  gives  weight  to  the  fubjeCi  ; 
and  which  ihould  animate  all  that  are  capable 
of  it,  to  a  facred  ambition  to  learn,  in  fome 
good  meafure,  this  important  art,  and  to  get 
{kill  in  muiic,  efpecially  in  pfalmody  \  and 
to  ufe  it  well,  in  the  praife  of  their  God,  and 
to  the  honor  of  their  Redeemer,  and  to  their 
own,  and  others  edification. 

The  bleffed  God  was  long  worfhipped  by 
facrifices,  before  he  was  pleafed  to  fettle  their 
nuuiber,  kind,  quality,  and  the  manner  of  fa- 
crificing  as  we  find  them  in  the  Jewifh  law, 
inftituted  of  God,  by  Mofes,  his  fervant.  So 
it  was  with  this  part  of  worfhip  of  which  we 
are  treating : — Though  it  is  founded  in  the  mo- 
ral reafon,  and  unchangeable -/ft«e?/i  of  things, 
and  the  obligations  to  vocal  praife  inforced 
by  the  law  of  nature  ;  yet  God  was  pleafed  to 
give  particular  orders  about  it,  and  to  regu- 
late its  form  and  manner  by  fpecial  command 
and  inftitution .  This  he  did  in  particular  in 
the  time  of  David  that  great  and  excellent 
King  of  Ifrael ;  under  that  great  Maftcr  of 
divine  mujic^  the  wan  after  God's  own  heart. 

The 


[     6      ] 

The  blefTed  God  was  pleafed,   as  it  were,    to 
fettle  the  mufical  part  of  his   worfhip,    under 
the  countenance  and  infpeclion,  of  his    favo- 
rite King  ;   toko  himfelf  was    the  moft  fweet 
pfahniji  and  finger  of  Jfrael.       He  therefore 
gave   particular  orders  and    directions    about 
this  fublime  part  of  the  worfhip  of    the  Lord 
in  his  f anCluary  ;   that  the  facred  fong  might 
be  managed  decently,   and   in    order,    to   the 
honor  of  God,  and    to  the    edification  of   the 
pious  and    devout    worfliipper.      And  to  this 
end,  a    very    confiderable  number,    both    of 
finging  men,  and  ringing  women,    were    ap- 
pointed, to  lead  in*,  if  not  wholly  to  perform 
this  part  of  divine  worfhip.      And  they  were  to 
devote  their  time,  and  talents,  to  the  employ- 
ment, or  to  qualify  themfelves  for  it.       They 
were  to  make  divine   mufic,    and  the  art  and 
knowledge  of   it,    their    principal  bu fine fs.  *f 
This  was,  that  they  might  be  Jhilful  in  mufic, 
and  know  how  to  manage   the  facred  fong  in 
the  beft  manner,  that  the  praifes  of  the  Lord 
might  be  fung  in  all  its  parts,  in  various  chords 
and  proportions    of   mufical    found  ;   that    it 
might  be  calculated,  to  ennoble  the  foul,  to 
warm  the  heart,  and  to  wrap  every  power  in 

facred 
•  I  am  not  certain  but  that  the  congregation  of  the  Lord 
joined  with  the  fingers  in  the  public  worfhip  of  praife,  under 
ihe  Jewifh  difpenfation,  efpecially  thofe  whofe  voices  were  to- 
lerably formed  to  mufic  ;  though  a  late  ingenious  writer  is  of 
a  different  opinion. 

f  This  appears  from  their  having   a  public    nuuMCfianCC 

allowed  them,  as  r^s  friefts.  had,   fftf,  xi,  *3< 


C    7    3 

facred  devotion.  Though  the  inftru&ions 
about  the  divine  mufic,  that  we  find  recorded 
in  this  chapter,  relate  more  especially  to  3. 
particular  occafion,  viz.  that  of  bringing 
back  the  Ark  of  God,  and  fitting  of  it  in  the 
place  that  King  David  had  prepared  for  it  5 
yet  we  find  the  fame  care  about  the  order 
and  regularity  of  mufic,  continued  in  the 
ftated  worihip  of  God,  all  along  under  the 
Jewifh  ceconomy.  That  it  wajs  not  of  hu- 
man invention,  or  meerly  by  the  command 
of  Davids  the  King  ;  but  by  the  command  of 
God,  and  having  the  ftamp  of  divine  appoint- 
ment, fhall  be  confidered  in  the  fequel.  What 
has  been  already  faid  opens  the  way  for  a 
more  particular  confideration  of  the  text. 
*c  And  Chcnaniah,  chief  of  the  Levites,  was 
for  fongs."  Can  it  be  a  queftion,  what  Jongs. 
thefe  were,  that  he  was  to  be  mafter  of,  and 
to  manage  with  beauty  and  order  f  Surely  no, 
the  point  is  obvious  ;  they  were  the  fongs 
and  pfalms  of  the  Lord,  compofed  by  holy 
men  of  old ,  under  the  guidance  of  the  Holy- 
Ghoft  ;  defigned  and  adapted  to  worfhip  and 
glorify- the  God  of  Ifrael.  And  to  this  end, 
they  had  not  only  the  fongs  of  Mofes,  and 
others  that  were  infpired  by  the  facred  fpirit, 
Jet  to  mujic  ;  but  David  himfelf^  the  fvveet 
finger  of  Ifrael,  was  moved  by  the  Holy- 
Ghoft:  to  compofe  many  divine  pfalms  and  fa- 
cred hymns,     which    he  either  fet    to  mufic 

himfelf 


t     8     3 

himfeif,  or  commited  them  to  feveral  fkilfut 
matters  of  mufic  for  this  purpofe  j  that  they 
might  be  fung  with  fk.il! ,  and  made  ufe  of  in 
the  public  worfhip  of   God  • 

Such  a  matter  of  mufic  was  Chenaniah, 
mentioned  in  the  text,  and  it  is  worth  our 
notice  in  this  place  that  he  was  chief  of  the 
Levites  :  That  he  fuftained  one  of  the  firft 
characters  for  honor  and  dignity  in  the  king- 
dom of  Ifrael  $  yet,  notwithstanding,  fo  no- 
ble, fo  excellent  was  the  art  of  mufic,  efteem- 
ed  in  that  day,  efpecially  divine  mufic ,  to  be 
employed  in  the  worfhip,  and  to  the  honor  of 
the  true  and  living  God  ;  that  the  greateft 
perfonages  of  the  age  did  not  think  it  below 
their  dignity  to  apply  themfclves  to,  and 
fpend  much  of  their  time  in  the  fludy  and 
practice  of  it. 

King  David  himfeif,  though  one  of  the 
greateft  monarchs  of  the  age  in  which  he 
lived,  though  he  was  poflefled  with  a  capa- 
cious mind,  and  was  remarkable  for  his  wif- 
dom,  for  his  prudence,  as  well  as  for  his  va- 
lor, power  and  authority  ;  was  no  lefs  re- 
markable for  his  piety  and  clofe  attachment 
to  the  worfhip  of  God  and  a  moft  fervent 
promoter  of  it  in  every  part,  and  is  memo- 
rable for  his  /kill  and  zeal  in  this  excellent 
part  ;  that  it  might  be  performed  by  rule, 
with  (kill,  with  decency  and  order,  fo  as  to 
anfwer  in  the  beft  manner  the  good  ends  of 
its  appointment.  And 


C     9     ] 

And  with  this  view  was  Chcnaniah  appoint- 
ed maftei  of  the  facred  fongs  of  the  Lord  ; 
in  the  original  it  is,  he  was  a  lifter  up  of  the 
fongs,  it  is,  as  if  it  was  laid,  that  he  was  the 
moderator  of  the  facred  mufic,  l«  t*  he  not 
only  directed  about  the  tunes  and  parts 
thereof,  composing  fome  and  choofing  others, 
adapted  to  the  meafure,  nature  and  foleni- 
nity  of  the  pfklm,  and  fong  to  be  made  ufe 
of  in  the  worfhip  of  God,  on  this,  or  that 
occafion,  fo  that  the  melody  might  be  fweet 
and  engaging,  fuited  to  raife  the  foul  to  the 
higheft  pitch  of  devotion  ;  but  he  took  pains 
with,  and  inftructed  the  fingers,  how  to  lift 
up  their  voices  together  in  harmony,  on  the 
various  parts  that  he  afligned  them,  fo  that 
the  various  notes  mould  chord,  and  afford  the 
fweeteft  mufic  to  the  ear  ;  that  by  this  means 
the  divine  inftruction  of  the  fong,  or  the  mat- 
ter of  the  pfalm,  might  find  the  readieft  ac- 
cefs  to  the  heart,  and  better  the  foul  by  raif- 
ing  it  to  God,  and  directing  all  the  defires 
and  affections,  to  things  divine  and  heavenly. 

Thus  much  at  lead,  is  fiiggefled  to  us,  by 
his  being  the  lifter  up  of  the  facred  fongs  of 
the  Lord,  and  inftructing  about  them,  be- 
caufe  he  was  flulful.  For  this  is  the  reafort 
given,  why  he  was  afligned  to  this  honorable 
employ  ;  why,  he  was  appointed  moderator 
of  this  part  of  God's  worfhip,  and  to  fit  and 
qualify  others   for  this  excellent  bufinefs,    by 

B  inftructing 


[    io    ] 

inftru&ing  them  in  this  fublime  art.  It  was 
becaufe  be  was  fkilful  ;  q.  d.  he  was  well 
qualified  to  regulate  the  time  and  movement 
of  the  facred  fong,  becaufe  he  entered  into 
the  fpirit  and  defign  of  this  method  of  praif- 
ing  and  worfhipping  the  God  of  Ifrael  ;  not 
only  fo,  but  he  well  underftood  the  fcale  of 
mufic,  and  was  ready  at  theufe  of  it,  and  apt 
to  teach  others  the  regular  and  harmonious 
performance  of  the  duty,  that  it  might  be 
acceptable  to  God,  and  well  anfwer  the  ends 
of  its  inftitution*  with  regard  to  men,  their 
comfort  and  edification* 

This  fhort  paffage  of  infpiration  affords  ns 
the  following  fentiments,  which  I  think  are 
either  exprefTcd,  or  fairly  implied,  viz. 

That  praifing  God  with  the  voice  as  well 
as  with  the  heart,  or  fin  gin  g  forth  his  praif- 
es  with  the  voice  of  melody,  and  that  with 
fkill,  gracefulnefs  and  harmony  ;  is  a  duty 
of  great  importance,  and  incumbent  upon  all 
that  are  capable  of  it  :  Founded  in  the  moral 
fitnefs  of  things^  enforced  by  the  fpecial  in- 
ftitution  of  God ,  and  binding  upon  the  chrif- 
tian,  as  well  as  l  he  Jewifh  church  and  people 
of  God.  That  the  duty  is  founded  in  the 
reafon  and  unchangeable  fitnefs  of  things,  and 
taught  us  by  the  law  of  nature,  may  appear 
not  only,  from  the  relation  there  is  between 
God  and  the  creature,  but  from  the  fenti- 
ments  and   practice    of  men,    on  great  and 

weighty 


weighty  occafions,  while  under  the  guidance 
and  direction  of  reafon,  and  natural  conference 
only.  Natural  reafon  without,  and  before 
there  was  any  pofitive  institution  of  God, 
about  the  matter,  has  proved  fufficient  to 
teach  men  that  they  could  no  way  fo  pro- 
perly exprefs  the  earned  defires  and  warm 
emotions  of  their  fouls,  in  pious  gratitude  and 
jpy,  as  in  the  fymphony  of  foitg,  and  ani- 
mating chords  of  mufic. 

This  is  not  only  evident  from  many  tcfli* 
monies  that  might  be  brought  from  profane 
hiftory,  but  from  the  fketches  we  often  find 
in  the  (acred  records  ;  where  we  find  that 
pious  men  of  old,  without  any  fpecial  direc- 
tion of  God  about  it,  and  meerly  from  the 
dictates  of  their  own  minds  ;  on  great  and 
animating  occafions,  break  forth  into  finging, 
and  expreffed  their  religious  thankfulnefs,  in 
fongs  of  praife  to  the  Rock  of  their  falvation. 
This  was  undeniably  the  cafe,  with  Mofes  and 
the  children  of  lfrael  at  the  Red  Sea  ,  then 
fang  Mofes  and  the  children  of  lfrael  this 
fong.  And  it  does  not  appear,  that  as  yet 
there  was  any  divine  inftitution  about  this 
part  of  the  worfhip,  but  otherwife,  that  it 
was  the  natural  overflowings  of  their  pious 
joy  and  thankfulnefs  on. that  great  occajion^ 
and  the  dictates  of  reafon  and  natural  confer- 
ence, that  expreffed  itjb/fm  muiic,  and  direct- 
ed them  thii6  to.  fing  God's  praife, 

I 


[         12        ] 

I  might  mention  a  like  inftance  at  the  well 
of  Beer,  where  the  people  of  God,  being  de- 
livered from  diftreffing  thirft,  brake  forth  into 
fongs  of  praife  ;  worfhipping  the  God  of  their 
falvation  with  vocal  mufic  ;  andmoft  likely  the 
fongs  of  Deborah,  and  Barak  were  of  the 
fame  kind.  But  I  (hall  not  enlarge  upon  this 
thought. — I  am  next  to  obferve,  that  this 
excellent  and  fublime  art  of  muijc,  was  in- 
troduced into  the  ancient  church  of  God,  by 
his  own  fpecial  appointment ,  and  made  a  ne- 
ceflary  and  important  part  of  his  worfhip. 

The  great  Creator  of  all  things,  having 
wonderfully  conftituted  man,  with  regard  to 
the  organs  of  ipeech  and  found,  as  well  as 
on  other  accounts,  forming  his  voice  in  fnch 
a  manner  that  it  is  eafily  tuned  to  various 
notes  of  concord  and  harmony  ;  and  having 
imprefTed  his  very  nature  with  a  confcioufnefs 
of  ufing  it  in  the  praife  of  his  Creator,  was 
plea  fed,  in  his  own  time  and  way,  to  give 
ipecial  direction  about  it.  And  after  he  had 
erected  a  church  in  the  world,  and  from  time 
to  time,  had  revealed  his  mind  and  will  con- 
cerning his  worfhip,  and  fhewnhowhe  would 
be  worfhipped,  as  well  with  regard  to  the  man- 
ner  as  matter  of  Worship,  was  alfo  plea  fed 
to  give  fpecial  command  and  direction  about 
this  part  of  worfhip,  directing  that  it  mould 
be  performed  in  the  beft  manner,  moft  agree- 
able to  the  nature  of  the  duty,    and   to    the 

nature 


C    '3    3 

nature  of  man  ;  i.  e.  with  (kill  and  harmony 
of  the  voice  :  That  it  might  tend  to  roufe 
a  fpirit  of  devotion  in  the  mind  of  man,  and 
to  elevate  his  foul  in  the  praifes  of  his  Creator 
and  Redeemer  :  And  to  this  purpofe  there 
Mere  a  great  number  appointed  to  the  facred 
fervice,  and  were  instructed  in  the  art  and 
(kill  of  muiic  under  the  belt  mafters  of  the 
age  ;  that  in  the  worfhip  of  God,  it  might  be 
performed  without  difcord  or  confufion,  but 
with  decency  and  order  ;  for  our  God  is  a 
God  of  older,  not  of  confufion. 

Now  the  obvious  reafon,  why  fo  much 
(kill  was  to  be  exercifed  in,  and  pains  taken 
about  this  part  of  worfliip  was,  to  prevent 
confufion  and  diforder,  in  a  part  of  worfliip 
where  fo  many  were  to  lift  up  their  voices  to- 
gether ;  in  a  part,  defigned  and  calculated  to 
reach  inftruction  to  the  foul,  by  the  harmony 
of  Sou  n  d  ,  and  to  warm  the  heart,  in  the  ex- 
ercife  of  true  devotion  ;  which  would  be  im- 
poflible  were  it  to  be  performed  without  rule, 
fkill  or  order — Now  to  evidence  that  all  this 
care  and  pains  about  the  tnufical  part  of  God's 
worfliip,  which  we  find  recorded  in  the  text 
and  context,  did  not  originate  from  the  mere 
humour  of  King  David  ;™but  was  by  the  ap- 
pointment of  the  Lord,  we  need  but  turn  yoa 
to  the  books  of  Ezra  and  Nehemiah.  For 
upon  the  return  of  the  captivity,  in  the  days 
of  Ezra  and  Nehemiah,  when  %he  true  wor- 
fliip 


C      1.4     1 

fhip  of  God  was  again  fet  up  in  Jerufalcm,  and 
the  enquiry  was  Jiriclly  made,  what  is  that  mo- 
del the  Lord -commanded  us,  by  Mofes  and  the 
Prophets  : — The  Singers  in  the  worfhip  of 
God  were  appointed  in  their  order,  according 
as  we  find  it  recorded  in  the  text  and  con- 
text ;  and  this  is  exprefsly  faid  to  be  as  the 
Lord  had  commanded,  by  the  mouth  of  his 
fervants,  the  Prophets  ;  and  again  it  is  laid 
that  Jehoiada,  the  prieit,  appointed  the 
fingers  in  the  worfhip  of  God  ;  as  it  wai 
'written  in  the  law  of  Mofes,  and  commanded 
by  David,  the  King  :  All  which  refer  to  what 
is  written  in  our  text,  and  context,  and  to 
the  regulation  of  the  facred  mufic,  under  the 
man  after  God's  own  heart  :  Which  is  fuffi- 
cient  to  illuftrate  the  point,  that  voeal  mufic 
was  introduced  into  the  worfhip  of  God,  by 
his  own  inftitution  \  and  tha^  the  Jcwifli 
church  were  under  not  only  moral,  but  pofitive 
obligations,  to  perform  it  with  all  poflible  re- 
gularity and  harmony,  as  well  as  with  pious 
frames  of  heart  and  religious  exercife  of  foul. 
But  if  the  queftion  fhould  arife,  is  this 
binding  upon  chrifiians  f  Or  fhould  any  en- 
quire, is  it  yet  obligatory  upon  the  church  of 
God  under  the  chriftian  difpenfation,  to  wor- 
fhip God  with  the  voice  of  melody,  in  finging 
foith  his  praife  ?  To  which  I  anfwer,  that 
the  affirmative  is  fully  evident,  and  may  be 
clearly  illustrated,  both  from  the  reafons    of 

the 


C    i*    3 

the  inftltution,  that  ftill  remain,  and  from  the 
pojitive  teftimony  of  God  in  this  matter, 
found  both  in  the  old  and  new-teftaments. 

Now,  it  is  evident,  that  the  reafons  of  the 
duty  ftill  remain,  and  always  will,  as  to  fub- 
ftance  ;  though  it  may  vary  as  to  fome  cir- 
cumftances. — The  reafons  of  the  duty,  as  to 
fubftance,  are  of  a  moral  nature  ;  originate 
from  the  relation  between  the  Creator  and 
creature  *  and  will  always  continue,  fo  long  as 
that  relation  fubfifts.  They  depend  upon  the 
unalterable  fitnefs  of  things,  and  therefore 
the  reafons  of  the  duty  are  unchangeable. 
Therefore  it  follows,  that  as  the  reafons  and 
nature  of  the  duty,  were  not  peculiar  to  the 
ftate  and  circumftances  of  the  Jewifh  church, 
but  of  equal  obligation  under  every  difpen- 
fation  ;  fo  muft  of  confequence,  have  equal 
weight  with,  and  be  equally  binding  upon 
chriftians.  Now,  one  obvious  reafon  why 
finging  with  the  voice  of  melody,  was  intro- 
duced into  the  Jewifh  church,  and  by  divine 
appointment  made  part  of  their  religious  wor- 
fhip  was,  becaufe  that  this  facred  mufic  had 
a  fir  iking  tendency,  and  peculiar  force  and 
energy,  to  elevate  the  foul  of  man,  and  to 
engage  the  mind  in  the  moft  fervent  exercif- 
es  of  religion  ;  and,  as  it  were,  to  abforb  it 
in  the  warmeft  raptures  of  devotion. 

For  nothing  perhaps    (in  a  way  of  means) 
can  have  a  greater  tendency,  to  ajjimul 'ate  the 

humble 


humble  foul  to  God,  and  more  and  more 
liken  him  tohisbleffed  image,  and  raife  every 
power  to  the  higheft  pitch  of  gratitude, 
praife  and  thankfgiving  :  And  facred  mufic 
has  evidently  the  fame  bleffed  tendency  now, 
it  had  of  old,  and  for  the  fame  reafons  ;  for 
human  nature  is  much  the  fame  now,  as  it 
was.  then  ;  God  is  the  fame  yefterday,  to-day, 
ted  for  ever,  and  as  worthy  to  be  worfhipped 
and  praifed  as  ever  he  was,  and  pious  obliga- 
tion to  do  it  is  the  fame,  and  (till  remains  ; 
fo  that,  that  which  was  the  obvious  reafon  for 
its  being  then  inftituted,  is  as  conclufive  for, 
its  being  now  inftituted,  and  to  continue  bind-^^ 
upon  the  chriftian  church . 

And  ifregular,fkilful,  and  harmonious  ma- 
nagment  of  the  facred  fong,  in  all  its  parts 
and  movements,  had  a  tendency  then  to  en- 
kindle devotion,  to  warm  the  heart,  and  to 
animate  the  foul,  as  it  were  to  the  raptures 
of  joy  and  gratitude  ; — it  has  now,  and  for 
the  fame  reafons  ;  and  it  is  as  binding 
upon  the  chriftian,  as  it  was  upon  the  Jewifh 
church  and  people  of  God. 

It  is  readily  granted,  that  there  were 
many  things  in  the  inftituted  worfhip  of 
God's  ancient  church  and  people,  that  were 
peculiar  to  them,  and  to  that  ftate  and  period 
of  the  church,  and  have  no  place  under  the 
chriftian  difpenfation  :  And  that  becaufe  the 
reafons  of  this  appointment  do  not  now  ob- 
tain 


C    17    3 

tain,  they  being  abolifhed  by  the  coming  and 
kingdom   of  Chrift. 

Such  were  all  things  purely  ceremonial  and 
typical^  which  are  now  entirely  done  away 
by  the  coming  of  Chrift  the  antitype,  and 
the  introduction  of  the  gofpel  ftate.  And 
indeed,  it  appears  to  me  to  be  a  very  juft 
and  fafe  way  of  determining  what  things 
were  ceremonial  and  what  were  not,  what 
were  peculiar  to  the  then  ftate  of  the  church, 
and  what  were  not  ;  by  taking  into  our  view 
the  particular  reafons  of  the  inftitution. 

For  thafe  practices  and  ordinances  that 
had  place  then,  not  for  reasons  that  were 
peculiar  to  the  Jews  and  that  difpenfation, 
but  for  reafons  that  are  of  equal  weight 
under  every  difpenfation,  are  no  doubt  bind- 
ing under  every  difpenfation,  and  ought  to 
be— conformed  to,  by  every  ferious  worfliip- 
per  of  God.  This  reafoning  is  applicable  to 
the  duty  we  are  now  confidering.  Whatever 
circumftances  may  differ,  yet  the  fubjlance 
or  ejfence  of  the  duty,  remains  ftill  the  fame, 
and  as  binding  upon  us,  as  them  ;  and  that 
with  regard  to  the  general  manner,  as  well 
as  matter  of  the  duty,  i.  e.  with  gracefulnefs 
and  harmony,  as  well  as  with  grace  in  our 
hearts. — But  further,  the  fame  fentiment  is 
plainly  taught  us  in  the  word  of  God.  There 
are  feveral  intimations  to  this  amount  in 
the  old-teftament,  that  fuggefts  to    us    that 

C  this 


C    is    3 

this  duty  of  worfhipping  and  praifing  God 
with  the  voice  of  melody,  was  to  be  continued 
under  the  gofpel  difpenfation  ;  one  or  two  of 
which  I  fliall  mention,  that  to  me  appear 
to  imply  a  command,  and  to  make  the 
duty  binding  upon  the  church  of  God  under 
the  gofpel  difpenfation  ; — particularly  in  the 
iooth  pfalm,  make  a  joyful  noife  unto  the 
Lord,  all  j/e  lands  ;  i.  e.  ye  people  of  all 
lands, — ferve  the  Lord  with  gladnefs  ; — come 
before  his  prefence  with  Jinging.  This  we 
find  is  anaddrefs  to  all  people,  of  all  lands, 
and  at  all  times.  It  is  allozved  by  all  com- 
mentators, and  by  the  Jewifh  Doctors  and 
Rabbies  themfelves,  That  this  pfalm  has  a 
peculiar  reference  to  the  gofpel  day,  and  ftate 
of  the  church,  and  therefore,  is  a  command 
to  chriftian  wormippers  to  come  before,  or 
into  the  prefence  of  the  Lord,  with  Jinging, 
and  to  pour  out  the  gratitude  and  joy  of  their 
hearts  in  harmony  of  found,  in  the  charming 
accents  of  Jhilful  and zvellregulated  mufic .  But 
it  is  time  that  I  hint  to  you  a  few  things, 
that  will  afford  us  further  light  in  this  matter, 
which  we  colled:  from  the  new-teftament. 

I  fliall  but  mention  the  fongs  of  the  bleffed 
virgin,  of  Zachariah  and  Elizabeth,  and  of 
good  old  Simeon,  and  others,  that  vented 
the  pious  raptures  of  their  fouls,  in  vocal 
fongs  of  praife  ;  but  fhall  more  particularly 
confider  the  examples  and  teflimonies,    that 

Chrift 


L      19     ] 

Chrift  and  his  apoftles  have  left  us  upon  fa- 
cred  record.  When  the  Lord  Jefus,  by  his 
example  and  command,  had  inftituted  the 
fucrament  of  the  holy  fupper,  at  the  fame 
time,  did  fignify,  and  fuggeft  to  us,  that  it 
was  his  will  that  we  fhould  fing  his  praifes, 
as  a  part  of  religious  worfhip  under  the  gof- 
pel  difpenfation  :  For  he  concluded  the  im- 
portant, the  inflructive  celebration  with  a 
f acred  hymn- — Should  it  be  objected,  that 
this  is  the  only  time  we  have  any  account  of 
our  Saviour's  finging  as  a  part  of  divine  wor- 
ship, and  fo  it  cannot  be  argued  from  thence, 
that  he  would  have  his  church  fing  as  a  part 
of  religious  worfhip  :  In  reply  we  may .  ob- 
ferve,  that  we  have  no  account  of  his  cele- 
bration of  the  holy  fupper  at  an}/  other  time; 
what  then  ?  He  no  doubt  left  the  whole  for 
our  imitation,  and  hereby  fully  fijggefts  to 
us,  that  it  is  his  will  that  we  fhould  worfhip 
him  by  finging  forth  his  praife. 

Neither  have  we  any  account  of  his  pray- 
ing before,  or  after  his  fermons,  What  then  ? 
Why  no  doubt  he  was  a  conftant  at  tender  on 
the  Jewifli  temple  worfhip  ;  of  which  fing- 
ing was  a  conftant  and  important  part,  equal- 
ly known,  and  equally  binding  as  the  duty  of 
prayer,  or  any  other  part  of  divine    woribip. 

But  it  will  be  to  our  purpofe  %o  comment 
a  little,  upon  what  we  find  in  the  writings  of 
St.  Paul,   relating  to  this  duty  oi  finging  the 

praifes 


C        20       ] 

praifes  of  God  in  our  worfhip  ;  efpecially 
fee  to  this  purpofe  the  14th  chapter  of  his 
firft  epiftle  to  the  Corinthians. — And  it  is 
obferveable  here,  that  the  profeffed  defigu  of 
this  chapter  is  to  regulate  the  worfhip  of 
God,  fo  that  it  might  be  performed  decently, 
and  with  order,  he  aims  to  reform  feveral  ir- 
regularities in  the  worfhip  of  God,  that  had 
fo  foon  crept  into  the  church,  that  the  chris- 
tian worfhip  might  be  guarded  againft  con- 
fuiion  and  diforder  ;  and  managed  with  that 
decency  and  order  that  would  have  a  ten- 
dency to  promote  the  declarative  glory  of 
God,  the  honor  of  the  Redeemer,  and  the 
mutual  edification  of  chriftian  worfhippers. 
And  it  is  in  this  connection  that  he  fays,  / 
will  pray  ivith  the  fpirit^  and  Izvill  pray  with 
the  underftanding  ;  I  will  Jing  with  thefpirit* 
and  I  will  fing  with  the  underftanding  :  And 
he  does  not  fay  this  only  with  reference  to 
himfelf,  as  what  he  refolved  upon  with  re- 
gard to  his  own  conduct,  but  this  is  what  he 
enjoined  upon  the  whole  church  of  God  in 
his  name,  fpeaking  with  the  authority  of  an 
infpired  apoftle. 

And  it  is  much  to  our  purpofe,  and  worth 
particular  notice,  that  we  find  this  great 
apoftle  fpeaking  of  finging  as  a  well  known 
part  of  religious  worfhip,  in  common  and 
ftated  ufe  and  practice,  equally  known  and 
acknowledged  with  either  praying  or  preach- 


c  2i  : 

ing,  and  a  duty  equally  binding  upon  the 
chriftian  church. 

And  here  he  lets  us  know  that  it  fhould 
be  performed  not  only  in  the  fpirit,  but  with 
the  voice,  not  only  with  a  right  temper 
of  mind,  and  with  true  devotion  of  heart, 
but  with  underfi  anding  :  Not  only  with  un- 
derstanding as  to  the  matter  and  meaning  of 
the  facred  Jong ,  but  as  to  the  rule  and  man- 
ner of  its  performance,  i.e.  with  fkill  and 
harmony.  This  glofs  upon  the  words  is  ea- 
fiiy  justified,  from  the  fimilitude  the  apoftle 
brings  to  illuftrate  his  argument,  which  is 
taken  from  the  defign  and  ufe  of  a  trumpet 
in  war  ;  for  if  the  trumpet  gives  an  uncer- 
tain found,  who  mall  prepare  himfelf  for  the 
battle;  i'.  e.  if  the  trumpet  give  an  irregu- 
lar, confufed,  or  uncertain  found,  it  throws 
the  foldiers  into  confufion,  and  differ ves  the 
caufe  which  it  was  defigned  to  promote. 

So  it  is  with  the  vifible  worfbip  of  God  in 
all  the  parts  of  it,  if  the  whole  affembly  be 
fpeaking  or  praying  at  one  time,  or  all  to- 
gether, or  ia  an  unknown  tongue,  it  intro- 
duces confufion  ;  though  sve  hear  the  found 
the  understanding  is  not  inftructed,  and  the 
heart  cannot  be  bettered  ;  the  affections  are 
not  excited,  devotion  and  pietv  are  not  pro- 
moted. The  fame  is  obferveablc  with  regard 
to  ringing  the  praifes  of  God  ;  (the  defign 
of  which  part  of  worflrip  is,  that  our  voices 

may 


C         M        1 

may  be  lifted  up  together)  there  muft  be 
fome  known  and  determinate  method,  or 
mode  of  found)  well  underflood,  in  which  we 
can  unite,  or  it  cannot  anfwer  the  purpofe  of 
edification  :  Therefore  the  praifes  of  the 
Lord  are  to  be  fang  forth,  not  in  uncertain 
founds,  not  in  confufion  and  diforder,  with 
the  harfh  and  jarring  notes  of  difcord  ;  but 
with  harmony  and  concord,  underftanding 
the  manner,  as  well  as  the  matter  of  the  fa- 
cred  fong. 

For  if,  in  finging  the  fongs  of  the  Lord, 
we  do  it  in  irregular  and  uncertain  founds, 
where  is  the  harmony  ?  How  fhall  we  ling 
together  ?  How  fhall  we  keep  time  and 
movement  together  in  this  part  of  worfhip  ? 
How  mall  we  underfland  one  another  ?  And 
how  is  it  poifible  that  we  fliould  be  excited 
hereby  to  devotion,  and  be  mutually  edified. 

So  it  appears  that  by  underftanding,  the 
apoftle  means  Jhill  in  the  manner,  as  well  as 
underftanding  in  the  matter,  to  be  fung  in 
the  worfhip  of  God  ;  and  anfvvers  to  inftruc- 
tion  and  (kill,  mentioned  in  the  text. 

To  the  fame  purpofe  is  that  of  the  fame 
apoftle  to  the  Coloflians,  iii.  16.  where  the 
duty  now  under  confideration  is  exprefsly 
enjoined  upon  all  chriftians  in  common,  un- 
der the  go  {pel  difpenfation,  viz.  that  they 
teach  and  admonifh  one  another,  in  pfalms, 
hymns  and  fpiritual  fongs,  finging  -with grace 

in 


C    23    3 

in  their  hearts  unto  the  Lord.  Though  in 
this  paffage  of  fcripture,  a  gracious  temper 
of  mind  is  enjoined,  the  neceffity  and  impor- 
tance of  grace  in  the  heart  inforced,  in  order 
to  the  right  performance  of  this  duty  ;  which 
indeed  is  the  leading  fe-ntiment  in  the  right 
performance  of  every  duty.  Yet  he  cannot 
mean  to  exclude  the  harmony  of  the  voice, 
for  the  end  aimed  at  depends  upon  its  heing 
vocal  ;  which  is  teaching  and  admonifhtng 
one  another  :  The  external  part  of  the  duty 
is  taken  for  granted  as  a  well  known  part  of 
worfliip  ;  but  here  the  apoftle  reminds  us  of 
the  better  and  internal  part  of  it,  viz.  Grace 
in  the  heart  that  fhould  always  accompany 
the  external  performance  of  the  duty,  as  the 
beft  method,  in  order  to  anfwer  the  great 
and  important  end  of  the  duty  ;  teaching 
and  admonifhing  one  another,  that  is,  by 
ftirring  up  gracious  affections  in  ourfelves 
and  others,  by  the  elevating  accents  of  mu- 
jic  in  fongs  of  praife,  and  by  the  united  har- 
mony of  voice.  Now  it  is  evident  this  end 
cannot  be  anfwered  without  ringing  toge- 
ther in  a  focial  manner,  and  fkilfully  uniting 
our  voices  in  the  folemn,  in  the  mnructive 
fong. 

Thus  have  I  fhewn  that  the  duty  of  prais- 
ing God  with  the  voice  of  melody,  or  iinging 
forth  his  praife  in  fkilful  and  well  regulated 
miijic,    is  binding  upon  the    chrifthvu  church 

and 


C    *4    ] 

and  people  of  God,  as  much  as  it  was  upon 
the  Jewifh,  and  is  taught  us  in  the  fcriptures 
both  of  the  old  and  new  teftaments.  But* 
perhaps  it  will  be  expected  that  on  this  oc- 
caflon  fomething  fhould  be  faid,  more  parti- 
cularly, concerning  the  manner,  decency  and 
order  of   this    part  of   divine  worfhip. 

We  have  fhewn  already  in  this  difcourfe 
that  finglng  the  praifes  of  God  as  an  act  of 
worfhip,  is  a  duty  taught  us,  both  by  reafon 
and  fcripture  ;  but  how  frequent  it  is  to  be 
practifed  or  how  often  we  mould  fing  praife 
when  we  come  together  for  woifhip,  is  no 
where  pointed  out  in  the  word  of  God.  But 
it  is  to  be  a  part  of  our  public  worfhip,  and  if 
fo,  why  not  a  part  of  our  family  worfhip 
for  the  fame  reafons,  it  has  the  fame  blefled 
tendency  to  warm  the  heart,  and  to  excite 
fpiritual  devotion  in  the  family  as  well  as  in 
the  houfe  of  God.  Since  therefore  the  duty 
it f elf  is  clearly  taught  us  in  the  word  of  God, 
and  the  frequency  and  fome  other  circum- 
ftances  are  not,  chriftian  prudence  muft  di- 
rect ;  but  reafon  and  conftant  experience  of 
the  benefits  of  it,  urge  us  to  frequency  in 
this  foul-cheering  and  heart-animating  duty. 

But  further,  I  fhall  obferve,  that  in  the 
compofition  of  this  difcourfe,  I  have  attend- 
ed to  fome  fcripture  intimations  that  have 
convinced  my  mind  more  than  ever  of  the 
propriety  of  beginning  our    public    worfhip 

with 


with  a  fong  of  praife.  That  before  men- 
tioned paffage  in  the  looth  pfalm  fuggefts 
as  much,  come  before  his  prefence  with  fing- 
ing j  which  words  in  their  plain  and  obvious 
meaning,  naturally  lead  us  to  conclude  that 
finging  fhould  be  our  firft  employ  when  we 
come  into  the  prefence  of  the  Lord  ;  that 
we  fhould  begin  his  worfhip  with  this  fublime 
and  holy  exercife  ;  but  let  us  take  the  fourth 
verfe  in  connection  with  the  firft,  and  the 
latter  will  ferve  as  a  comment  upon  the  for- 
mer, enter  into  his  gates  with  thank/ giving ^ 
and  into  his  courts  with  praife  ;  which  I 
think  fully  intimates  to  us,  that  when  we 
come  into  the  courts  of  the  Lord,  we  fhould 
begin  his  worfhip  with  a  fong  of  praife  : 
The  reafon  and  nature  of  the  thing  fpeaks 
the  fame  language i  and  points  out  the  pro- 
priety of  beginning  the  worfhip  of  God  with 
finging,  when  we  can  with  any  conveniency 
and  decency  of  voices  3  for  this  duty  devoutly 
performed,  has  a  powerful  tendency  to  com- 
pofe  and  folemnize  the  mind ,  and  to  raife  the 
affections,  and  thereby  to  fit  and  qualify  the 
foul,  for  all  fubfequent  parts  of  worfhip. 

The  thought  I  leave  for  the  ferious  confe- 
deration of  all, God's  people. 

But  further,  as  finging  is  a  part  of  God's 
appointed  worfhip,  no  doubt  it  aught  to  be 
performed,  with  the  moft  decent  and  reverend 
pofture  of  the  body  :  For  we  are  to  offer  unto 

D  God, 


C      26      ] 

God,  in  his  worfhip,  the  body,  as  iv ell  as  foul 
and  fpirit,  which  are  his.  This  duty  is  an 
immediate  addrefs  to  Cod,  and  that  equally 
-with  prayer  ;  and  why  mould  we  not  ftand 
up  to  worfhip  God,  in  this  duty,  as  well  as  in 
that; — unlefs  want  of  health,  or  bodily 
flrength  prevent,  which  will  equally  warrant 
us  to  fit  in  the  duty  of  prayer,  and  no  more 
in  one  duty  than  in  the  other  :  Will  any 
object  the  fatigue  and  wearinefs  to  the  body  5 
fuch  may  do  well  to  confider,  that  this  was 
the  cry  of  old  :  What  a  wearinefs  !  What  a 
wearinefs  ! — And  it  is  obferveable  that  their 
character  was  none  of  the  beft  ;  befides  the 
natural  advantage  of  a  {landing  pofture  in 
this  part  of  worfhip,  as  it  gives  play  to  the 
lungs  and  advantage  to  the  voice,  there  is 
a  moral  reafon  for  it  arifing  from  our  obli- 
gation to  offer  unto  God  our  very  felves  (as 
the  apoftle  expreffes  it)  both  in  foul,  body 
and  fpirit,  which  is  but  our  reafo liable  fervice . 
And  now  I  will  appeal  to  the  common  fenfe  of 
mankind,  whether  {landing  in  an  immediate 
addrefs  to  God  is  not  moft  becoming  the  duty . 

We  often  read  of  their  flanding  up  to  fing, 
and  they  flood  up  to  praife  the  Lord  in  the 
beauty  of  holinefs,  &c.  But  no  where  as  I 
remember  of  their  fitting  down  to  fing  forth 
the  praife  of  the  Lord. 

But  further,  it  is  a  fair  deduction  from  what 
has  been  ftid  of  the  ufe   and  end    of   facred 

mudc 


[      *7      ] 

mafic  ;  that  it  fhould  be  performed  with  (kill, 
and  harmonious  modulation  of  thevoice.  The 
fentiment  is  fully  taught  us  in  the  text  and 
context,  and  in  other  parts  of  the  holy  fcrip- 
tures.  This  part  of  divine  worfhip  of  old 
was  performed  with  (kill  and  harmony  of 
the  voice,  and  there  was  great  care  and 
pains  taken  that  it  might  be  fo  ;  and  to  this 
end  was  Chenaniah  appointed  moderator  of 
the  facred  fongs  of  the  Lord  :  He  was  Jkilful 
himfelf,  and  inftrucled  others  to  be  fo,  that 
this  part  of  worfhip  might  be  performed  with 
gracefulnefs  and  harmony.  Now  fkill  in  any 
thing  implies  a  rule,  according  to  which  that 
fkill  is  to  be  exercifed ;  and  inflruclion  fup- 
pofeth,  the  being  taught  this  rule  ;  and  the 
ufing  and  applying  of  it  fkilfully  to  the  pur- 
pofe  defigned. — So  ringing  in  concord  and 
harmony,  dr  fkill  in  mufic,  neceffarily  implies 
a  rule,  and  that  they  perform  it  fkilfully.  are 
acquainted,  in  fome  good  meafure;  with  this 
rule  ;  and  apply  it  to  the  purpofe  defigned, 
with  gracefulnefs  of  voice,  and  harmony  of 
found, 

Mufic  has  its  foundation  in  the  nature  of 
things  ;  it  takes  its  fife  from  the  unalterable 
proportion  of  Bounds  one  to  the  other; 
all  the  variations  of  notes  and  changes  of  the 
voice  or  inftrument  in  mufic,  are  frill  depen- 
dant upon  the  foundation,  i .  e.  the  invaria- 
ble proportion  o/jounds,     It  depends  upon 

as 


C    28    2 

as  exact  proportions,  as  any  part  of  mathe- 
matical fcience  whatever,  of  which  it  is  an  im- 
portant part.  And  therefore  is  pleafing  and 
edifying  fo  far,  and  no  farther,  than  it  is 
compofed  by,  and  performed  according  to 
that  rule,  and  exact  proportion  ;  the  farther 
from  it,  the  more  diftant  is  the  found  from 
muftc  ;  but  the  nearer  to  this, proportion,  and 
the  more  exatfnefs  in  performing,  the  more 
excellent  and  charming  the  muiic  ;  and  of 
confequence  the  greater  power  and  influence 
upon  the  human  mind  ;  and  the  greater  ten- 
dency to  excite  pious  affection,  and  true  de- 
votion in  the  worfliip  of  God* 

It  hath  pleafed  the  great  Author  of  nature, 
not  only  fo  to  form  and  conftrucl:  the  human 
voice,  as  that  it  may  be,  in  general,  eafily 
formed  to  the  rule  and  fc ale  of  mufic,  where- 
by we  are  rendered  capable  of  making  melody 
to  God,  with  our  voices  ;  but  hath  formed 
in  us,  the  curious  organ  of  the  ear,  a  faculty 
whereby  we  arc  capable  of  diftinguifhing  the 
fweet  chords  and  accents  of  well  proportioned 
mujic,  from  the  jarring  notes  of  diflbnance  ; 
and  to  be  highly  delighted  with  the  one,  and 
not  lefs  difpleafed  and  difgufted  with  the 
other  :  For  the  ear  tryeth  founds,  as  well  as 
words  ;  therefore,  that  the  facred  mufic  ufed 
in  God's  holy  worfliip,  may  be  both  pleafing 
and  edifying  (for  one  it  cannot  be  without 
the  other)  it  muft  be  performed  with  regular 

exa&ne  fs 


•        C       29       ] 

exa&nefs  of  found,  time  and  movement*. 
As  far  diftant,  as  it  is  from  this,  fo  much  it 
loofeth  of  its   power  and  influence  to    pleafe 

and 

*  In  order  further  to  illuftrate  this  thought,  and  to  throw 
light  upon  the  fubjeel,  I  (hall  favour  the  public  with  fome 
critical  remarks  of  my  worthy  friend  and  brother,  Mr.  Strong, 
of  Simfbury,  the  only  author  I  had  read  upon  the  fubjeel,  and 
to  whom  I  am  indebted  for  feveral  fentiments  in  this  difcourfe, 
though  I  truft  I  have  fo  far  digefled  them,  and  wrought  them 
into  my  cwn  method  of  thinking  and  fpeaking,  that  they  have 
fo  far  become  my  own  as  that  neither  he  nor  others,  can  ac- 
eufe  me  as  a  plagiary.  1  fhall  therefore  extract  fomething  from 
his  piece  by  way  of  marginal  note,  as  it  is  wrote  with  great 
j'uftnefs  and  ingenuity,  and  better  exprefies  the  thought  that  I 
am  now  confidering,  than  any  language  of  my  own  ;  but  let  us 
hear  what  Mr.  Strong  fays  upon  the  point  ;  he,  fpeaking  of 
the  ground  and  foundation  of  mufic,  as  founded  in  the  nature 
of  things,  takes  this  inference,  "  Is  it  true  that  mufic  has  its 
foundation  in  the  nature  of  things,  and  depends  upon  exact 
proportion  ;  and  as  to  its  eiTentials  always  remains  invariably 
the  fame  ;  then  certainly  the  principal  and  fundamental  rules 
by  which  it  is  taught  are  alfo  the  fame  in  all  ages.  Whenever 
therefore  a  regular  attempt  is  made  to  reform  pfalmody,  it  is 
not  to  introduce  properly  a  new  way  of  ringing,  but  to  xcco- 
ver  men  from  their  errors,  and  to  bring  them  back  to  practice 
npon  the  only  good  old  way  :  And  whoever  difapproves  of, 
•r  oppofes  fuch  an  attempt  through  diflike,  does  fo  through 
ignorance  or  fomething  worfe.  Yet  this,  notwithiianding,  when 
people  have  been  long  without  a  regular  method  of  ringing  in 
the  wormip  of  God,  and  have  departed  from  it,  it  is  not  at 
all  to  be  wondered  at,  if  many  warmly  oppofe  an  attempt  for 
a  reformation^  through  an  averiion  to  innovations  in  matters  of 
divine  worihip,  and  the  more  precife  and  confeicntious  per- 
fons  are,  the  warmer  their  oppofition  ;  and  yet  all  through  ig- 
norance or  miftake  :  Such  has  always  been  the  cafe  with  re- 
fpec~l  to  reformations  of  all  kinds,  in  things  pertaining  to  re- 
ligion or  the  worfhip  of  God.— Again, —Though  the  rule  be 
one  and  the  fame,  yet  it  may  be  differently  applied,  and  as  to 
non-eiTentials,  very  perceptable  alterations  and  variations  may 
take  place,  perhaps  in  all  cafes  ;  for  instance  in  finging,  the 
notes  ufed  in  jnufic  may  be  founded  ilower  or  quicker,  longer 
or  fhorter,  being  juilly  proportioned,  and  the  rule  dTentuliy 


C    30    ] 

and  delight  the  foul,  and  to  excite  it  to,  and 
animate  it  in  the  exercife  of  true  devotion. 
Therefore  from  hence  follows  the  importance 
of  acquiring  (kill  in  facred  mafic,  that  our 
voices  may  be  lifted  up  together  in  all  the 
parts  of  the  facred  fong ;  and  that  with  as 
great  exactnefs,  and  with  as  much  harmony  as 
poflible*  There  are  many  pailagesin  facred 
fcripture,  that  reprefent  God's  approbation 
of  the  fkilful  and  melodious    performance  of 

this 

the  fame.  In  former  times,  the  longeft  note  was  to  be  founded 
four  times  fo  long  as  the  longed  now  in  ufe  :  So  that  although 
it  be  eflential  to  good  mufic  that  the  feveral  notes  have  their 
proper  founds*  yet  as  to  the  length  or  continuance  of  their 
founds,  it  is  not  of  the  effence  of  mufic,  but  of  its  circum- 
ftantials,  and  may  therefore  be  varied.  Alfo  with  refpect  to 
keeping  time  with  utmoft  exaclnefs,  in  all  the  feveral  parts  of 
the  tune  ;  this  is  fo  eflential  to  good  finging*  that  it  cannot 
poflibly  be  good  without  it  ;  of  the  truth  of  this  every  one  is 
vvitnefs,  who  has  any  tafte  for  mufic :  He  quick  perceives  the 
difagreement,  and  finds  his  ear  wounded  whenever  it  is  want- 
ing ;  though  others  v/ho  have  not  that  tafte,  difcern  nothing 
of  it,  and  therefore  are  by  no  means  competent  judges  in  the 
cafe.  But  the  methods  ufed  to  meafure  and  keep  the  time  ex- 
actly have  been  different,  in  different  times  and  places  ;  and  it 
is  but  a  circumftantial  thing,  what  method  or  motion  be  ufed, 
provided  it  be  decent  and  well  anfwer  the  end.  The  prefent 
method  of  beating  the  time,  as  it  is  called,  has  been  found  the 
moft  eafy  and  exadl  of  any  hitherto  tried  among  us.  The  ex- 
cellency and  beaofy  of  mufic,  and  I  add  its  tendency  to  anfwer 
the  purpofes  of  religion,  much  depend  upon  giving  the  founds 
properly,  and  keeping  the  time  with  critical  exaclnefs.  All 
the  cavals  and  objections  that  can  be  thrown  in  the  way,  againft 
regular  finging,  will  go  but  very  little  way  towards  convincing 
any  one  who  has  a  tafte  for  mufic,  and  finds  himfelf  tranfport- 
ed  almoft  to  rapture,  by  its  fweet  harmonious  drains,  that  re- 
gular, well  proportioned  mufic  has  nothing  in  it  preferable,  to 
the  finging  we  have  been  wont  to  have,  while  we  went  without 
xule." 


C     3*     1 

this  duty  of  finging  forth  his  praife  ;  I  (hall 
mention  but  one  or  two.  When  King  Solo- 
mon conveyed  the  ark  of  the  covenant  of  the 
Lord  to  the  temple  he  had  built  for  it,  and 
fat  it  in  the  deflgned  place  for  its  reft,  he  did 
it  with  a  band  of  mufic,  the  moft  grand  and 
fublime  that  we  have  any  accoant  of;  and  it 
is  worth  our  notice,  that  when  the  fingers, 
fang  all  as  one,  and  when  all  the  inftrumeni- 
tal  m-ufic  coincided  with  the  vocal,  fo  as  to 
become  all  as  one,  &  e*  in  perfect  concord 
and  harmony  ;  that  then,  and  not  till  then, 
the  glory  of  the  Lord  rilled  the  houfe  ;  and 
the  cloud  of  glory  which  was  the  cymbal  and 
token  of  the  divine  prefence  and  favour,  fo 
covered  the  ark,  and  the  mercy-feat,  that 
the  priefts  could  not  ftand  to  minifter,  be- 
caufe  of  the  glory  and  perhaps  becaufe  of  the 
exftatick  rapture  of  their  fouls  in  holy  de- 
votion, 2d  Ghron.  v.  13.  which  fee,  Sec.  and 
God  has  often  appeared  for  his  people  and 
given  them  fignal  deliverances,  in  confe- 
quence  of  the  devout  finging  of  his  praife. 
<c  When  tire  fingers  that were  appointed  to 
go  before  the  army  of  Ifrael,  in  the  time  of 
Jehofaphat,  when  the  Moabites  invaded  them  ; 
fang  and  praifed  the  Lord,  faying,  praife  the 
Lord  for  his  mercy  endureth  for  ever^  then 
the  Lord-appeared  for  them,  and  wrought  a 
great  falvation."  I  might  mention  the  in- 
ftance  of  Paul  and  Silas,  and  other    inftances 

of 


C    32    3 

of  God's  gracious  interpofition  upon  his  peo- 
ples, worfhipping  of  him  with  fongs  of  praife  ; 
but  time  would  fail  :  All  which  intimates  to  us 
thus  much  at  leaft,  that  the  blefTed  God,  has 
always  been,  and  is  now,  ready  to  give  gra- 
cious tokens  of  his  approbation  and  favour, 
to  the  exactnefs  and  harmony  of  this  part  of 
his  worfhip,  when  accompanied  with  gracious 
exercifes  of  fpiritual  devotion.  And  that  in 
this  way  he  is  ready  to  grant  us  the  mercie9 
we  need,  common  or  fpecial  $  not  that  this 
fkilful  and  harmonious  finging  the  praifes  of 
the  Lord,  procures  his  favour,  or  moves  the 
heart  of  God  towards  us  ;  no  verily,  he  is 
infinitely  and  unchangeably  difpofed  to  mer- 
cy and  kindnefs.  But  this  exercife  greatly 
prepares  and  qualifies  the  foul  for  the  receipt 
of  mercy  ;  all  which  confiderations  fhould 
be  improved  as  a  powerful  motive  to  excite  us 
to  qualify  ourfelves  for,  and  to  take  great  care 
and  pains  in  the  performance  of  this  part  of 
God's  worfhip,  as  well  as  in  all  others  ;  for  God 
is  a  God  of  order,  and  will  be  worshipped 
decently  and  with  order  $  as  well  as  in  fpirit 
and  in  truth. 

But  to  conclude  the  thought,  which  indeed 
has  been  carried  through,  and  interwoven 
with  the  whole  difcourfe,  we  may  obferve, 
that  this  fublimc  part  of  worfhip,  of  which 
we  are  fpeaking,  ought  not  only  to  be  per- 
formed with  {kill,  and  with  engaging  melody 

of 


t     33     3 

of  the  voice,  but  with  grace  in  the  heart,  it 
ought  in  all  reafon^  to  be  a  gracious  melody  ; 
it  muft  be  accompanied  with  fpiritual,  warm, 
and  elevated  devotion  of  the  foul.  This  in- 
deed is  the  primary  end  of  the  inftitutjon  z 
Though  the  outward  regularity  and  beauty 
of  pfalmody  is  that  by  which  God  may  be 
vifibly  glorified  in  the  church  $  yet  the  out- 
ward eloquence  of  mufic  in  religious  wor- 
fhip  is  chiefly  defireable,  as  it  has  a  powerful 
tendency  to  ftir  up  gracious  affections,  and 
to  promote  the  religion  of  the  heart.  There- 
fore we  fhould  always  have  the  moft  folici- 
tous concern,' that  we  not  only  fing  graceful- 
ly and  mufically  with  the  voice,  but  with, 
grace  in  our  hearts,  making  melody  in  our 
hearts  to  the  Lord ;  that  we  may  glorify 
God  in  our  fouls,  bodies,  and  fpirits,  which 
are  his  : — However  ufeful  and  necefTary  the 
former  is,  yet  it  is  fo  chiefly  as  a  mean  and 
tendency  to  the  latter  ;  for  without  this  we 
(hall  fail  of  acceptance  with  God,  and  lofe 
the  fpecial  benefit  to  our  own  fouls  ;  and  in 
the  iflue  be  found,  but  as  founding  brafs,  and 
a  tinkling  cymbal  ;  and  all  our  mufic  be 
turned  into  mourning,  fad  lamentation,  mi- 
fery  and  woe  :  But  what  remains  is  by  way  of 
APPLICATION. 
I.  From  what  we  have  heard  upon  the 
fubjecl:,  we  infer  the  manifeft  reafon  we  have 
thankfully  to  acknowledge,  and  pioufly  to  ad- 
mire, both  thb  wifdom  and  kind nefs   of  our 

E  great 


C     34     ] 

great  Creator,  in  forming  us  capable  of  fo  ex- 
cellent an  art,  fo  divine  an  employ  as  that  of 
mufic,  efpecially  facred  raulic,  to  be  ufed  in  his 
own  worfhip.  Our  God  it  is  that  hath  adjufted 
the  invariable  proportion  of  founds,  and  giv- 
en thefe  chords  of  mufic  power  to  flrike  our 
minds  with  the  fvveeteft  furprife,  and  moft 
agreeable  rapture  ;  he  hath  formed  the  ear, 
and  given  us  the  fenfe  of  hearing,  whereby 
we  quick  perceive  its  force  and  energy — are 
greatly  delighted  with  it,  and  find  it  reach 
inftru&ion  to  the  heart ;  and  that  it  carrieth 
our  fouls  to  God,  on  the  wings  of  faith, 
love,  and  holy  defire. — Surely  then  thefe  no- 
ble faculties,  fhould  not  ruft  with  the  talent 
hid  in  the  earth,  by  the  flothful  fervant,  nor 
be  improved  to  the  dilhonour  of  him  who 
gave  them  ;  but  in  return  for  the  favour, 
they  fhould  be  improved  to  his  honour  and 
glory,  in /inging  forth  his  praife  in  holy  me- 
lody,  and  fpiritual  Song. 

II.  We  infer  from  the  fubject,  that  vocal 
praife  fhould  alio  make  part  of  our  family 
worfhip  ;  and  every  family  ought  to  be  ca- 
pable of  performing  it  with  gracefulnefs  and 
harmony  of  voice,  that  is  capable  of  per- 
forming any  focial  worfhip  at  all ;  it  is  true 
indeed,  that  the  deaf,  the  dumh,  and  the 
idiot  are  excufed  for  want  of  capacity  ;  and 
perhaps  a  few  whofe  voices  are  fo  weakened 
with  infirmity  or  age,  that  they  cannot  join 
in  the  focial  praifes  of  their  God7  which  I  am 

fure 


[     35"    3 

fure  will  be  a  great  grief  and  burden  to  the 
ferious  and  pious  mind.  And  it  is  to  be  con- 
fefled,  that  there  is  now  and  then  one  to  be 
found,  who  are  in  full  ftrength,  and  of  good 
capacity  for  other  employments,  whofe 
voices  are  fo  ftubborn  and  unwieldy ,  as  that 
it  is  next  to  impoflible  to  form  them  to  the 
fcale  of  mufic,  or  learn  them  to  fing  any 
part  of  the  tune,  let  them  take  ever  fo  much 
pains  ;  but  this  is  not  commonly  the  cafe. — 
When  this  is  the  cafe  with  any  one,  it  is  his 
unhappinefs,  and  he  ought  to  be  pitied  ; 
fuch  perfons  muft  join  their  ears  and  hearts, 
-in  this  part  of  worfhip,  but  not  their  voices. 
But  the  beft  matters  of  mufic  tell  us,  that 
there  are  but  very  few  voices  but  what  may 
be  tolerably  well  formed  to  the  fcale  of  mu- 
fic, on  one  part  or  the  other  ;  and  a  fkilful 
mafter  will  quick  perceive  which  part  the 
voice  is  formed  for,  and  will  direct  them  ac- 
cordingly .  So  it  appears  that  but  very  few 
indeed,  can  excufe  themfelves,  in  the  neglect 
of  the  duty  we  are  confidering,  either  in 
public  or  family  worfhip.  The  fame  reafons 
that  inforce  the  importance  of  finging  with 
the  voice  of  melody,  in  the  public  worfhip 
of  God,  hold  good  with  regard  to  the  wor- 
fliip  of  the  family  :  — Has  it  a  tendency  to 
excite  devotion  and  to  promote  the  religion 
of  the  heart,  in  the  public  worfhip  of  God, 
it  has  the  fame  tendency  in  the  worfhip  of 
the  family  ;  and  Cod  is  glorified  in  the  lat- 
ter, as  well  as  bv  the  former.  No-w 


I  36  1 

Now  what  excufe  can  we  make  in  the  ne- 
glect of  this  part  of  worfhip  in  the  family  I 
The  common  excufe  made,  we  have  heard 
is,  in  its  own  nature,  criminal  : — "We  cannot, 
we  do  not  know  how,  we  never  learned  to 
fing,  &c.  This  (unlefs  the  incapacity  be  na- 
tural, as  we  have  before  obferved)  is  your 
blame,  your  inability,  your  incapacity  is  of 
a  moral  kind,  in  which  lieth  your  blame. — 
"Why  have  you  not  learned  to  fing  ?  And 
why  have  you  not  taught  your  families  to 
ling  forth  the  praifes  of  their  God  and  Re- 
deemer ?  Have  you  not  voices  for  other  oc- 
cafions  ?  And  have  not  your  children  voices 
to  ufe  in  fin  gin  g  wanton  fongs  ?  And  have 
not  both  parents  and  children,  as  well  as 
others  of  the  houfhold,  capacities  to  learn 
other  things  much  more  difficult  to  learn 
than  pfalmody  -?  Is  not  the  true  reafon  why 
you  cannot  manage  a  pfalm  or  hymn  in  the 
family  with  decency  and  regular  harmony, 
to  the  glory  of  God,  and  your  own  comfort, 
becaufe  you  will  not  afford  yourfelves  or  chil- 
dren time,  and  a  little  expence,  that  ye  may 
be  able  to  fing  together,  and  offer  to  God 
this  part  of  his  worfhip.  If  this  is  the  cafe 
guilt  lieth  at  the  door,  you  will  have  to 
anfwer  for  talents  mifimproved,  or  hid  in  a 
napkin,  if  you  continue  in  the  neglect. 
When  we  confider  with  what  eafe  a  tolera- 
ble  acquaintance   with   the    fcale  of  mufic 

may 


[     37     ] 

may  be  obtained  in  this  day,  fufficient  to 
join  in  this  part  of  God's  worfhip,  both  in 
public  and  in  the  family,  with  decency  and 
harmony  :  One  would  think  that  fhame  muft 
cover  the  face,  and  blufliing  the  cheek  of 
many,  that  neglect  and  difregard  this  duty, 
upon  the  plea  of  incapacity.  I  have  dwelt 
the  longer  upon  this  inference,  becaufe  it  is 
of  great  importance  )  if  the  people  of  God 
would  accuflom  themfelves  to  finding;  in  their 
family  worfhip,  they  would  foon  find  the 
ufe  of  their  voices,  they  would  foon  be  ani- 
mated to  learn  the  rule  of  fmging,  they 
would  foon  find  the  comfort  and  enjoyment 
of  it,  and  we  fhould  foon  fee  an  amazing 
alteration  for  the  better,  in  our  nuific  in  the 
houfe  of  the  Lord. 

III.  But  further  we  infer,  that  it  is  both 
the  duty  and  intereft  of  every  one,  and  that 
the  obligation  is  binding  upon  all  that  are 
capable  of  it,  now  forthwith  to  apply  them- 
felves to  this  noble  art,  and  that  with  a  view 
to  the  glory  of  God,  in  the  graceful  and  de- 
cent performance  of  this  important  part  of 
his  facred  worfhip,  that  pfalmody  may  be 
revived  among  us  ;  indeed  this  will  have  a 
powerful  tendency  to  revive  dying  ;md  de- 
caying religion  among  us,  for  we  have  heard 
that  facred  mufic  has  a  peculiar  influence  on 
the  mind  of  man,  to  foften  the  rougher 
paffions,  to  calm  the  whole  foul,  and  to  pre- 
pare 


t  38  ] 

pare  it  for  the  moft  ferious  meditations  ;  and 
in  this  way  to  prepare  it  for  the  grace  of 
God  in  the  operation  of  his  holy  fpirit,  in  its 
converting  as  well  as  quickning  influence. 
It  has  been  an  old  obfervation  of  the  people 
of  God,  that  vital  religion,  the  power  of 
godlinefs  and  pfalmody,  have  decayed  and 
revived  together  ;  and  cannot  fome  of  us 
witnefs  to  fomething  of  this  fort  within  our 
own  obfervation  :  And  is  not  this  an  argu- 
ment of  weight,  to  excite  us  all  to  the  moft 
vigorous  attempts  to  revive  declining  pfal- 
mody among  us.  And  to  this  end  it  is  great- 
ly incumbent  upon  parents  and  heads  of  fa- 
milies, to  take  all  proper  care  and  pains  to 
be  qualified  for  the  performance  of  the  duty 
themfelves,  and  to  fee  to  it,  that  their  chil- 
dren and  houfholds  are  put  under  good  ad- 
vantages to  this  purpofe  :  Have  yon  not  fo- 
lemnly  covenanted  with  God,  have  you  not 
fworn  before  many  witneffes,  is  not  the  oath 
of  God  upon  you,  that  you  will  train  up 
your  houfholds  in  the  admonition  as  well  as 
nurture  of  the  Lord  ?  And  God  has  appoint- 
ed finging  his  praifes  in  a  focial  way,  as  one 
method  of  admonifhing,  Colof.  hi.  16th. 
St.  Paul  fays,  admonijhing  one  another  in 
pfalms,  hymns  and  fpiritual  fongs  : — You. 
therefore  have  not  difcharged  this  duty  as 
you  ought,  until  you  have  made  effectual 
tryal  of  your  capacity  for  focred  mufic  your- 

felves, 


C    39    3 

felves,  and  given  your  children  and  others 
under  your  care,  opportunity  and  advantage 
for  it,  where,  and  when,  it  may  be  had  with- 
in your  power,   But 

IV.  Let  high  and  low,  rich  and  poor> 
chriftians  of  every  denomination,  ftation  and 
relation  of  life,  be  perfuaded  to  put  to  their 
moulders  in  fo  good  a  work,  as  the  revival 
of  facred  mufic  :  As  it  cannot  be  done  with- 
out labour  and  pains,  and  not  commonly 
without  fome  little  coft,  let  thofe  that  have 
voices,  and  can  learn,  efpecially  the  younger 
part,  take  pains  in  this  excellent  art,  and  let 
others,  efpecially  thofe  that  are  opulent, 
contribute  to  this  good  defign  as  God  has 
given  themincreafe,  and  as  the  caufe  may  re- 
quire ;  whether  they  mean  to  learn  or  not, 
that  others  may  have  all  poflible  advantage, 
who  may  be  difpofed  to  apply  themfelves  to 
the  bnfinefs  of  learning  the  art  of  mufic,  to 
be  employed  in  the  worfhip  of  God  ;  it  is  of 
public  utility,  and  a  public  fpirit  will  excite 
to  this.,  This  is  a  flourifliing,  opulent  town, 
and  it  would  be  no  great  burden  to  fupport 
a  free  and  open -fchool,  for  the  learning  of 
facred  mufic^a  great  part  of  the  year  ;  and 
were  this  come  into,  the  whole  town  would 
foon  feel,  and  would  quickly  be  convinced  of 
the  general  benefit  ;  it  is  much  to  your  ad- 
vantage at  home,  and  to  your  honor  abroad, 
that  you  have  not  only  made  ample  provi- 
sion 


C    4°    3 

fion  for  the  fupport  of  the  public  worfhip  of 
God  in  other  parts  of  it,  but  have  taken  li- 
beral care  for  the  fchooling,  and  training  up 
children  and  youth  at  the  public  expence  *. 
And  will  you  be  wanting  in  this  part  of 
inftruclion  that  demands  fo  little  expence, 
and  is  of  fuch  public  and  divine  advantage  I 
I  charitably  hope  you  will  not  :  If  you  would 
have  the  fpirit  of  pfalmody  make  rapid  pro- 
grefs  among  you,  let  the  rich  and  honorable, 
perfons  of  diftinclion,  of  both  fexes,  engage 
in  it,  as  well  as  others,  and  let  none  be  too 
big  to  learn  fo  excellent  an  art,  and  fo  fhall 
your  example  redound  to  the  glory  of  God, 
and  general  benefit  in  this  regard.  It  is  no 
difhonor  to  the  moft  dignified  perfon  among 
us,  to  be  engaged  in  facred  mufic  ;  it  is  a 
genteel  accomplishment  for  the  honorable  of 
both  fexes,  and  has  always  been  efteemed  fo 
by  the  wifeft  and  belt  of  men  in  all  civilized 
nations  :  It  will  recommend  you  as  men  ; 
but  how  much  more  fo  as  chriftians  ;  it  en- 
larges the  mind,  it  ennobles  the  foul,  it  fil- 
leth  it  with  refined  fentiments,  and  turns  out 
from  the  mind  low  grovling  ideas.  But 
above  all,  it  is  to  the  glory  of  God,  and 
ferves  your  be  ft,  your  religious  inter  eft,  and 
will  you  not  be  perfuaded  by  this  ?  Are  you 
wore  honorable  than  King   David,    are  you 

more 

#  There  are  three  public  fchools  in  Newbury-Port,  fupported 
with  handfome  falaries,  befides  a  very  considerable  number  of 
private  fchools. 


C     4i     3 

more  refpectable  than  Chenaniah  the  chief  of 
the  Levites  :  And  they  thought  it  no  dif- 
honor  to  make  this  facrcd  muiic  much  of 
their  employ  ;  and  in  this  heavenly  art  they 
could  inftruct  others,  and  think  it  no  ftoop, 
no  tarnifh  to  their  honor. — Befides,  ye  rich^ 
ye  honorable  in  this  world,  will  ye  not  be 
willing,  by  and  by,  to  join  ifTue,  and  fing 
in  con  fort  with    thofe  that  are   now  beneath 

*  you,  when  they,  leaving  the  church  mili- 
tant, mall  join  the  church  triumphant,  and 
eternally  iing  forth  the  praifes  of  God  in 
heaven •  When  perfons  of  diftinction,  wealth 
and  honor,  come  to  be  engaged  in  fo  good  a 
work,  then  there  will  be  an  open  fchool  or 
fchools  for  pfalmody,  upon  a  generous  plan, 
free  for    all  denominations    without    diltinc- 

1       tion   ;    and  I  cannot  but  natter  myfelf,    that 

this  will  foon  be  the  cafe  :    And  are  there  any 

Chenaniahs  among  you,    that  are  able  to  in- 

ftruct  about  the  fong,  becaufe  they  are  fkil 

ful,    and    are    they    willing    to    fpend    their 

ftrength,   time   and  talents  in  the  work,    let 

a  fufficient  number   be  employed  in    this  bu- 

frnefs,    and  let  them  have  a  reafonable,    and 

but    a  reafonable  reward.      Then,    and  per- 

I  haps  not  till  then,  (hall  we  fee   facred   mufic 

1  generally    revived,    and    God  be  worfhipped 

1  in  our  religious  affemblies  with    the   fweetefl 

1  harmony  in  fongs  of  praife  3   and  our  hearts 

Ithereby    be    warmed   with   th*  mod  fervent 

ol      Idevotion,  F  A 


C    4*    1 

A  thought  or  two  more  and  I  have  done  ? 
How  melancholy  is  it,    that  we  fcarce  hear  a 
female  voice  in  our  public  worfhip  of  praife, 
though  they  make  up  fo  great  a  part  of  our 
worfhipping    afTemblies. — Suffer    me,    there- 
fore,  an    addrefs,    ye  females    of  this  large 
and  refpeclable    affembly,    efpecially  to    the 
younger    part    of   you  : — For   what   did  the 
great  Author  of  Nature  throw  peculiar  fweet* 
nefs  into  your   Voices,    as   well  as  delicacy 
in  your   general   conftitution  ? — Why   did  he 
form  it  upon   a  different  and    fublimer  key  ? 
Why  has  he    given  it  the  force    of  charm  f 
Was  it  to  trill  a  loofe    air,    or  chant  a  wan- 
ton fong  ;    to  excite  defire,  and  to  give  fuel 
to  the  loofer  paflions  ? — Surely  no. — Was  it 
not  rather  that  you  might  ufe   the  fweetnefs 
of  your  voice    in  finging  the  praifes  of  your 
God,  and  to  the  honour  of  your  Redeemer  ; 
and  that  by  a  diftinct  part  of  the  muftc,    in 
the  public  worfhip  ;   you  might  add  dignity, 
foftnefs  and  the  Jweeteft  harmony  to  the  fo- 
lemn  fong.      It  is  worth  your  consideration, 
that   though   the    infpired    apoftle    feems  to 
have  fhut  your  mouths  in    every  other  part 
of  public  worfhip,  yet  he  hath  left  them  open 
in  this  ;    and  will  you   fhut  them  in  the  only 
part  of   public   worfhip,    in    which  you    can 
open  them  with  decency,    and  to  your  own, 
and  others  comfort  and  edification  ?  Will  you 
not  improve  tie  liberty  God  hath  given  you, 

and 


f 


C     43     ] 

and  in  a  peculiar  manner  fitted  you  fovy har- 
mony of  found,  and  to  grace  the  worfhip  of 
his  praife  ;  your  imaginations  are  quick  and 
lively,  and  by  induftry  and  application,  you 
may  foon  learn,  in  a  good  meafure,  this  ex- 
cellent art  9  and  lb  your  charming  voices 
(hall  add  beauty  to,  and  give  inftruction  in 
the  worfhip  of  God.  Had  1  time  I  migH 
perfuade  you  to  the  duty,  by  many  affecling 
arguments,  by  the  confideration  of  the  re- 
deeming mercy  and  dyinglove,by  the  bowels 
of  a  Saviour,  who  wept,  agonized  and  died, 
that  you  might  rejoice  and  fing  ;  I  might 
perfuade. you  by  the  frequent  appearances 
of  a  gracious  God,  in  difpenfing  fpeciai  lav- 
ing mercy  in  anfvver  to  praife,  as  well  as 
prayer. — But  I  forbear.— Let  me  clofe  with 
a  general  addrefs,  and  perfuade  all  that  can., 
to  engage  in,  or  promote  facred  mufic,  by 
the  excellency  and  tendency  of  it,  as  it  raifes 
the  foul  to  God,  and  excites  holy  defires  af- 
ter him,  and  the  tokens  of  his  favour,  and 
calms  the  foul,  quiets  the  rougher  paffions, 
and  prepares  the  mind  for  ferious  medita- 
tions, and  for  the  re/idence  of  God  by  his 
holy  fpirit  ;  it  muft  be  excellent  ;  and  thus 
it  is  an  excellent  antidote  againft  Satan's  in- 
jections and  temptations,  whether  fubtle 
wiles,  or  fiery  darts.  Sacred  mufic  is  a  bar- 
rier to  keep  Satan  out  of  thejffcul,  it  fhuts, 
as  it    were,    againft  him   each  avenue    to  the 

heart  ; 


C     44     3 

heart  ;  mufic  is  in  direct  oppofition  to  this 
fubtle  adverfary,  he  cannot  live  where  it  is, 
in  any  perfection,  he  muft  flee  before  the 
pious  and  harmonious  mufic  of  the  people  of 
God  ;  David's  mufic  could  diflodge  him 
from  Saul  himfelf,  where  he  had  long  pof- 
i billon  :  So  my  friends,  if  you  will  unite  in  a 
gracious  harmony  of  heart  and  voice,  you 
fhall  keep  the  devil  out,  or  drive  him  from 
your  hearts,  you  fliall  drive  him  out  of  town, 
what  I  mean  is,  that  ye  fliall  triumph  over 
his  temptations,  through  the  promifed  aid 
of  him  that  hath  loved  you,  and  died  for 
you  ;  by  this,  every  litigating  party  may  be 
foothed  into  love,  peace,  and  harmony. — 
Wrath,  malice,  evil  fpeaking  and  backbiting, 
thofe  tools  and  engines  of  the  devil,  and 
promoters  of  his  kingdom,  fliall  flee  before 
vour  united  facred  mufic  ;  while  you  meet 
together  for  this  heart-chearing,  and  love 
and  peace  begetting  and  promoting  employ  : 
Thefe  angry,  turbulent  paflions  fliall  find  no 
place,  for  they  fliall  be  foothed  and  huflicd 
to  filence,  by  the  practice  of  this  facred  art. 
The  malicious  heart,  the  angry  paflions  up- 
on a  flandcring  backbiting  tongue,  fet  on 
fire  the  courfe  of  nature  ;  and  are  fet  on  fire 
of  hell.  But  the  fofter  and  manly  paflions, 
love,  peace,  Jo y^  gratitude  and  friendship, 
■j.ve  fet  on  nre^K^raw/zV,  and  thereby  neigh- 
bourhoods   and    communities    are    cemented 

in 


t     45-     J 

m  the  bonds    of   love    and  affection.      Theft 

furely  this  heavenly  art  is  worth  taking  fome 

pains   about  ;    it  is  a  laudable  ambition,    to 

flrinc  in   the    knowledge  and  practice    of   it, 

and  by    thefe    arguments  would    I  permade 

you  to  the  fublime  employ.      Butlfhall  fhut 

up  the    whole  by    turning  your    attention  to 

fome  where    between    fifty    and  an    hundred 

motives,  to  learn  and  practice  this  excellent 

art  *  ;   there   they   are  before   you  5     and  it 

affords  me  no  little  pleafiire,  to  obferve  that 

thefe  motives  are,  a  number  of  them,  of  the 

feminine,  as  well  as  of  the  mafculine  gender  : 

-—How  are  we    charmed    when  they    fing  in 

confort,  how  does  the  fkilful,  and  divine  mu- 

fic  thrill  through  every  pore  and  vein  j     and 

how  are  our  fouls  wrapt  in  facred   devotion • 

O  what  would    the  mufic   be,    how    finking 

and  inftructive  the  harmony  ;    could  a  whole 

affembly    fing  with    like    exactnefs.      Go  on 

my  mufical  friends  and  profper,  and  may  the 

Lord  be  with   you,   and  blefs  you  ;   fee  to  it 

that  you  get  the  melody  of    the   heart,    the 

grace  of    God,    and    true    fpiritual  devotion 

there  ,    that  from    fweetly  finging  together 

here,    ye  may    join  the  church    triumphant, 

and  the  eternal  anthem  to  God  and  the  lamb 

in  the   heavenly    ftate. — And  oh  !    That  the 

facred  fire  may  catch  from  n»an  toman,  and 

J^  from 

*  Aboot  the  number  of  the  ibciety  of  fingers,  that  were  pre- 
sent on  the  occafion. 


t     4«'3 

from  houfe  to  houfe,  until  it  burn  to  a  glo- 
rious flame.  May  the  laudable  ambition,  to 
learn  this  fublime  art,  fpread  through  the 
whole  town,  and  into  the  neighbouring 
towns  and  parifhes  ;  and  may  there  be  ma- 
ny Chenaniahs  raifed  up,  who  (hall  in  ft  nidi 
about  live  _  long,  becaufe  they  are  .fkilful. 
Which  may  God  of  his  infinite  mercy  grant, 
through  Jefus  Chrift,  Amen, 


N 


S. 


I 


IS: 


m 


I  W^,\ 

n 


